New Delhi. Department of Fertilizers is administering Concession Scheme for decontrolled P & K fertilizers, which is currently effective upto 31.3.2010. As per the scheme, the fertilizers viz. DAP, MOP, NPK Complexes, MAP, TSP, Ammonium Sulphate (AS) and Single Super Phosphate (SSP) are provided to the farmers at the subsidized rates. The Government has now introduced a Nutrient Bases subsidy Policy in respect of Phosphatic & Potassic fertilizers w.e.f. 1.4.2010 which will replace the outgoing Concession Scheme for P&K fertilizers. Urea is also a subsidized fertilizer administered under the New Pricing Scheme (NPS).

The amount of subsidy released by Department of Fertilizers during 2008-09 was Rs. 99494.71 crore, whereas it was Rs. 43319.16 crore during 2007-08. The subsidy outgo on fertilizers has increased substantially during the past few years with about 94% of the increase due to rise in international prices of fertilizers and inputs and only 6% is attributable to increase in consumption.

The food production during 2007-08 was 230.78 million tonnes and during 2008-09, it was 234.47 million tonnes. This information was given by the Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Shri Srikant Kumar Jena in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.